Rome's Last Noble Palace by Kimberly Sullivan

 This is an absorbing, beautifully-written time-slip novel set in the stunning Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome. Sophie, a young American from Vermont, arrives there in 2006 to work on a Persian-Italian exhibition. Soon her nights are affected by lack of sleep because she hears footsteps and then the sound of sobbing in her attic room. Who could this presence be?

Isabelle, also an American, stays at the palace in the late 19th century with her aunt, Princess Brancaccio. Her ambitious mother and her aunt want to marry her off to a wealthy nobleman but Isabelle wants a career designing costumes. She also likes the charming opera singer Lamberto, but can he be trusted?

I found the historical setting very interesting, having stayed on the Via Nationale many times, and the characters were engaging. However, as with several novels today, the story was deeply depressing. I am not sure why depressing novels are all the rage! I will check out Kimberly Sullivan’s other novels, though.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.